Parents

DCS Parents Unite!

We need your support to capture at least 51% of the parent/guardian base’s vote for the expansion of our facility and enrollment potential. As a high-performing A-rated charter school, DCS has the opportunity to (A) increase the number of its student seats by 15% of its charter capacity (600 total) and (B) expand its classroom spaces by adding to the current facility (details below).

(A) While we do not foresee moving beyond our 600-strong student population, it truly helps to be able to expand in the future if desired across the grade levels.

(B) Most significantly, we would like to add two portables to the campus; the first portable would be designated as a changing space partitioned for our physical education students. This would alleviate crowding in the bathrooms between periods so students can change before PE class. The second portable would be designated as a technology lab for computing and testing purposes in the future.

DCS could use a portable for PE changing space and a portable for an additional computer lab.

NO

Invalid Input

DCS should not be able to offer its students the convenience of a designated changing space and 21st century access to computing and technology.

Get connected and join the PTSA Remind101.com text blast!

By joining you will receive simple reminders of upcoming events, activities, important meetings, and volunteer needs.

You will not be bombarded with pointless texts

- that's a guarantee!

The steps to join are very easy:

Text "@dcspta" to (305)749-9835

Receive confirmation and complete the process as instructed.

*Please note that you are not being texted from a particular number but a web-generated reminder that broadcasts anonymous messages from the PTSA. In order to stop, simply type STOP as a reply.

Are you a registered volunteer?

PTSA/Athletic Booster Club Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Click HERE for details.

Tutoring

Language Arts tutoring is available with Ms. Kelly Eppcohen, by appointment only, for students in grades 6 to 12.

Forms are available in the office; private tutoring is $40,

group tutoring is $15.00.

Math tutoring information will soon be available.

Florida Prepaid College Program

The Florida Prepaid College Program is the plan that lets you pay for future college tuition, dormitory and fee expenses today!

The plan works best if parents sign children up for it the day they are born, but even High School juniors can enter the prepaid program and benefit from it. It locks in and guarantees your child's future education at a fixed price.

Note the following:

When your child is ready for college, the plan covers the actual cost at any Florida public college or university.

The program allows prepaid benefits to be transferred to most private universities in Florida or out-of-state colleges and universities.

You fight inflation by paying for future tuition costs today.

For additional information, including an enrollment kit, call (800) 522-4723 - press prompt 1, or via the web at www.myfloridaprepaid.com.

Reading Plus

Reading Plus is a proven, research-based reading software program provided by Miami-Dade County Public Schools to all students. It is a great tool for students to improve reading skills and raise FCAT reading scores. All students can access Reading Plus through theStudent Portal. The link to Reading Plus is halfway down the page of the Student Portal screen after the student logs in.

Click on the "login" link, then "student login". The site code is docmiami, and the class would be "Links to Learning " and the initial of the student's last name.

The password is the student ID.

Health/Life Management PE Uniform update

Students taking Health/Life Management and First Aid are not required to wear a PE uniform.

These are the only 2 classes exempt from the PE uniform requirement.

Important Notice Regarding Student Absences:

Regular and punctual attendance is crucial to student achievement. A student with 5 or more unexcused absences in a semester course and 10 or more unexcused absences in a year-long course may have grades and credit for the course withheld. Students who miss work due to unexcused absences will receive failing grades on that work.

Parents must send notes with their children upon return to school from an absence. All absences are unexcused until a note is received and they have 3 days to send in the note. The unexcused status cannot be changed after 3 days.

Examples of unexcused absences include vacations, personal services, non-school events, programs or sporting activities, provision of day care for siblings, illness of others, and non-compliance with immunization requirements. Excused absences generally include documented student illness, medical appointments, subpoenas by law enforcement agencies, outdoor suspensions, school sponsored events, observance of religious holidays or deaths in the family.

Parents wishing to have an anticipated absence classified as "excused" must request the permission of the Executive Director using the school's Pre-Planned Absence form. This form must be submitted to the Executive Director at least one week prior to the absence. If approved it must then be taken to each of the student's teachers and the academic counselor for their signatures and comments on the absence.

The student must return this form with all signatures to the Executive Director at least three days prior to the absence or the student will lose their right to make up assignments. If the student fails to secure the signature of any teacher before the absence the teacher has the prerogative not to allow make-up work and may issue failing grades for any work missed due to the absence.

It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all assignments prior to the absence and to make arrangements with their teachers for make-up work upon returning to school.

Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth

Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores has been invited by the University of Michigan to participate in a nationwide survey of 12th graders, entitled Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth. This annual survey, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been tracking changes in the attitudes, opinions and behavior of American young people for the past 39 years.

Its results are widely reported and are used by many organizations to develop better policies and programs that affect the nation’s youth. DCS 12th graders will be asked to complete a 45-minute questionnaire during regular school hours, which asks about school experiences, attitudes toward school and education, plans for the future, use of and attitudes about using alcohol and drugs, work experiences and preferences, and health and leisure activities.

There are no questions about sexual behavior or abortion. Students are informed that their participation is voluntary and that they may skip any questions they wish. They usually find the questionnaire interesting and enjoy the opportunity to express their views. Please review this brochure which provides parents with additional information about the study. Both the school’s participation and student responses are kept completely confidential. No school staff are involved in administering the questionnaires.

As a result of our participation, the school will receive a donation this year to be designated to the Senior Class for trips and expenses. Students will be asked to voluntarily provide information for possible future recontact.